Here’s your Room 15 Update for Feb. 18th, the week of Presidents Day. The holiday has its roots in George Washington’s Birthday, which is February 22nd. Back in the 18th Century, Americans were so taken with Gen. Washington, they started celebrating his birthday in pubs and inns while he was still in office! Later, Congress designated the third Monday in February to commemorate the day. Later still it was changed to Presidents Day, largely because Lincoln’s birthday is just a week earlier. Today the holiday is intended to recognize the birthday of all those who’ve served our country as Commander in Chief. In Room 15, we had intended to take some time to read three “presidential plays,” but time ran short and we’ve had to put it off. Hopefully later this week we’ll be able to give it another go.

In class this week we’re starting new Book Clubs. Students will take home complete study guides on Tuesday. We’re finally releasing our new list of vocabulary words. The test will be around the 27th or 28th. We’re also starting a new unit on fractions. The homework can be found here: Tues., Feb. 19th; Wed., Feb. 20th; Thur., Feb. 21st. The annual Room 15 Floor Hockey Tourney kicks off on Wednesday. Stay posted for outcomes and updates.  And finally, Friday is our annual trip to the Jo County Tree Plant. Our buses leave at 8:40 and return at the end of the day. Click on the “Tree Plant” tab on the right for photos from previous plants. Of course, there is also all that other stuff including DARE, Junior Achievement, webpages, State testing, Fact Car Rally math facts, history, more State Testing, computers, library, still more State Testing, fitness, grammar, writing… It seems the list is endless.